Pepas

Pepas are traditional Argentinian cookies. With a buttery short-bread-type base and a sweet filling of your choice, these bite-sized cookies are super easy to make and perfect for tea time. I use Osvaldo Gross’s recipe with a couple of tweaks.

Ingredients

• 125 grams butter
• 125 grams sugar
• Zest of half a lemon
• Splash of vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 yolk
• Pinch of salt
• 270 grams all-purpose flour
• 10 grams baking powder
• Approximately 200 grams quince paste, guava paste, dulce de leche, or desired topping

Instructions

1. Cream the butter with the sugar using a mixer or by hand. Add the lemon zest and vanilla extract.
2. Mix in the egg and yolk, then add flour, salt, and baking powder to form a smooth dough.
3. Shape the dough into 2-3 cylinders, wrap in plastic, and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
5. Slice the dough cylinders into 1 cm thick cookies. Place cookies on the baking sheet with some space between them.
6. Make a small hole in the center of each cookie and fill with your chosen topping.
7. Bake for 12-15 minutes, depending on your preference for doneness.